Gary
Parsons visits the BBMF to check out the Dakota's new paint scheme.

Dakota ZA947,
workhorse of the BBMF, has recently been repainted in the colours of a
Dakota serving with 267 Squadron of the Mediterranean campaign. A refreshing
change from her previous olive drab markings, which while authentic were
a photographer's nightmare, she will make for a stunning sight in the
air with the Pegasus emblem (267's badge) displayed proudly on both sides
of the front fuselage.

267 Squadron
was formed at Calafrana, Malta on 27 September 1918, from Nos. 360, 361,
362 and 363 Flights based at the seaplane station. It flew anti-submarine
patrols until the Armistice and remained as an operational squadron and
aircraft holding unit until renumbered 481 Flight on 1 August 1923.

ZA947
- just another number

ZA947
was built in March 1942 and issued to the United States Army Air
Force as 42-24338. In September the aircraft was transferred to
the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and served mainly in Canada
as '661', but was latterly used in Europe until declared surplus
to requirements in 1971.

The
Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) purchased '661' and allocated
the serial KG661. During her time with the RAE, KG661 was used for
a variety of tasks, including sonobuoy dropping through holes cut
in the fuselage and launching remotely piloted vehicles. Later research
showed that the original Dakota KG661 had been destroyed in an accident,
so the aircraft was allocated the new serial ZA947. In 1992 the
Defence Research Agency, the successors to the RAE, declared her
surplus to requirements and offered the aircraft for disposal. The
aircraft was adopted by Strike Command and issued to the BBMF in
March 1993. The Dakota earns her keep in the training of new aircrew
and in keeping the pilots of the Lancaster current during the winter
months when it is out of action.

In
1993 after engineering and structural work by Air Atlantique at
Coventry, the aircraft was flown to RAF Marham for painting in the
colours that Flight Lieutenant David Lord's aircraft carried during
the Arnhem campaign. In 1998, during a Minor servicing with Air
Atlantique at Coventry, the aircraft markings were changed to YS-H
of 77 Squadron from Fassberg in Germany and two trips were made
to Berlin and one to Hamburg in support of the celebrations for
the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.

On 19 August
1940 267 Squadron reformed from the Communications Unit, Heliopolis, for
local transport duties in Egypt. It used a variety of types for transporting
passengers, mail and freight between Egypt and outlying bases. The
pilots of 267 Squadron also performed a variety of special missions and
one of their number, Flight Sergeant John Appleby, won a DFM for his part
in the rescue of the Polish leader Thomasz Arciszewski, who was picked-up
from an airstrip in German-occupied Poland. He was also awarded the Polish
Cross of Valour for his troubles.

Through
the years

Larger aircraft
were acquired and by August 1942 operations extended throughout the Mediterranean
area and its role included the movement of personnel and equipment, casualty
evacuation and occasional supply-dropping missions to guerilla bands in
Italy and the Balkans. In November 1943, the squadron moved to Italy and
in February 1945 was transferred to India, where it carried supplies during
the 14th Army's final offensive that cleared Burma of the Japanese. After
a period of general transport duties, the squadron disbanded on 30 June
1946, though it continued operations until 21 July.

267 Squadron
reformed at Kuala Lumpur on 15 February 1954 as a transport and communications
unit. It flew Pioneers, Pembrokes and Dakotas equipped with loud-speakers
known as 'Voice Dakotas'. For four years three aircraft operated continuously
on Voice Operations until the unit was re-numbered 209 Squadron on 1 November
1958. A 'Voice Operation' was a flight to a particular area for the purpose
of broadcasting messages directly to a particular jungle target. Three
aircraft had been specially modified for this work - KJ810, KJ955 and
KP277. Slung under the mainplane were four loudspeakers delivering 500
watts of audio power, and in the main fuselage a large diesel engine was
anchored to the floor with huge bolts and metal tie bars - this supplied
the required 240v AC to the four amplifiers situated in each corner of
the main cabin.

Four years
passed before 267 Squadron was re-activated, as on 1 November 1962 it
became an Argosy unit based at RAF Benson, near Wallingford. The era of
the 'Whistling Wheelbarrow' was to last eight years until the final disbandment
arrived on 30 June 1970.